Jimmy Nelson set to make first big league start

The Milwaukee Brewers are ready to show off it's top pitching prospect.

Former Alabama pitcher Jimmy Nelson will start Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Nelson is listed by MLB.com as the top prospect in the Brewers organization.

He's 10-2 with a 1.46 ERA for the Triple-A Nashville Sound this season. Nelson was scheduled to start the Triple-A All-Star Game for the second consecutive year, but his call-up likely means he will miss the game.

Nelson will start in place of Marco Estrada, who has a 7-6 record but has given up a Major League worst 27 home runs this season.

"Sometimes you wait until the All-Star break to do things," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke told reporters. "But when the timing calls for something to be done, you try to do it. If it makes sense right now, why wait on something? That's what we talk about all the time. We talk about what goes on in here, how guys are feeling right now and do we need a change."

Nelson pitched in five games, including one start, for the Brewers last season. He allowed one run and two hits in 10 innings.